Rheumatic Fever Follow-up Study (RhFFUS) _ determining the optimal clinical response for minor heart valve abnormalities in an Indigenous Australian setting

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Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are a major health issue for Indigenous Australians. In a previous study heart ultrasounds in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children frequently showed suspicious but not diagnostic changes. RhFFUS (Rheumatic Fever Follow-Up Study) aims to see if these changes are associated with a higher risk of ARF and progression to RHD. If this is the case these high risk children could be identified earlier and offered regular antibiotics to prevent this cause of heart disease.